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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Review: Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

-author is third from the left

This was a rare (for me) excursion into the world of
non-fiction- only my second all year. I guess I’m sort of weird that way: I want
my fiction to be believable, and solidly based in reality, but I want my
non-fiction to be lyrical and impactful without blatent preaching. Having loved
Krakauer’s Into the Wild , (and giving
in to my obsession with adventure tales of all types) I thought this one might
just fit the bill. It certainly did.

This fast-reading, but deftly-turned book is a firsthand
account of the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster. It’s a book that will have you
dreaming of reaching the summit at the same time it convinces you that you’d just
as likely be one of the poor saps who finds an early grave there every year.
(Ten lost their lives in 2012 alone.)

Like an intricate thriller, Krakauer’s story will have you
replaying insignificant early events in your head, as you learn how they became
anything but insignificant to the various climbers and
guides trapped on the mountain. It’s a book filled with the kind survival stories
that would have you rolling your eyes in disbelief if it were a work of fiction.
Knowing that it’s not, though, you’ll be sucked into the account, coughing up pink
sputum with all the other altitude-stricken climbers and pulling for them to
get back to their tents when all hell breaks loose.

As a work of literature, it’s not going to bowl anyone over,
but it will transport you to a place you’ll likely never see.
And that right there is worth the price of admission. Check it out: